Today we’d like to introduce you to Katie Christensen.
Hi Katie, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My name is Katie Christensen and I am the founder and CEO of Simply Strengths, a talent development company passionate about positive leadership and healthy, engaged organizations. Our company seeks to help each person lead from their strengths, to create a positive impact on the world around them. A driving quote for us: “Where your talents and the needs of the world cross, there lies your vocation.” – Aristotle
My first encounter with great leadership was one of my first work experiences at a camp in the Sawtooth Mountains of Idaho. The director of this camp didn’t talk about his leadership style, or how to be a great leader, he just led with grace, compassion, confidence, and integrity, while calling out talent and leadership in others, and providing them the chance to grow it. He was a leadership giant!
Since that time, I have had other leaders who were mentors to me still, I noticed that more often, there was a leadership void and it mattered to my life. When I worked for healthy, empowering leaders, I could feel myself growing and my entire life felt more in balance and I had more to give. When I worked for a less- equipped leader, everything seemed to fall apart, including my own confidence, joy, and engagement. I had less energy and passion to give to my organization and far less to take home to my family, friends, and community at the end of the day. Nobody was winning.
I was introduced to a tool called CliftonStrengths while getting my master’s degree. I was immediately obsessed with the tool’s ability to create the framework and foundation for that healthy talent and leadership development I’d experienced in my earliest days working at camp! Not long after, I decided to become a Gallup-Certified Strengths Coach, so that I could share the power of Strengths with others. Before I knew it, my husband and I had a full-time business working with teams and organizations of all shapes and sizes!
Our business has evolved and expanded, and this October we are launching under a new name to better represent the scope of our work, which has stretched beyond just talent development and Strengths, into the realm of high-performing teams, high-performing leadership and creating engaged and thriving work culture. We have also grown to include an amazing team of coaches and consultants who are every bit as passionate as we are about helping people develop their talent and build strong teams, leaders, and cultures!
We’ve all experienced powerful training where we hear great ideas or methodology and we think, “I’m going to use that,” but work is busy and old habits die hard, and most of the time, within days or weeks, despite our best intentions, we’ve reverted to our old ways. What makes us unique is a digital platform called e2grow, which includes a 16-week training program that helps employees engage in new high performing behaviors supported through trainings, 1:1 personal coaching and online learning. Leaders participate in training to learn how to provide the ongoing support to sustain and continue to grow these transformations for the long haul. This creates a scenario where organizations, teams and individuals thrive but not just in the workplace. Fulfilled employees go home to their families, friends and communities with passion left to give! Everyone wins!
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
At first, I was trying to run the business alone. Many clients gave me great feedback and referrals, but there was a problem. I wasn’t charging them anything. I struggled to talk about money and ended up giving away most of my training. It wasn’t a great business model. Enter my husband, whose background is business, and we formed the most powerful partnership of my life! Neither of us could do this alone, but together we are growing and just hired our first 3 employees! It’s also incredibly reflective of a strengths culture.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar, what can you tell them about what you do?
I’m most proud of the organizations that have succeeded through our partnership. One of the things I am known for is the flexible and personalized way I connect with each client. This is so much more than a job for me. I truly want to help each person develop into the best version of themselves! I love my work and am driven by a strong desire to help all people get to love their work!
What makes you happy?
Being with friends and family is always top of the list. As for my vocation, I see people develop and grow and appreciate their unique talents. In this work, people often go from feeling frustrated about their talent or misunderstood to owning who they are and living it out loud! When teams become fluent, they start to understand one another in powerful new ways, and collaborations grow. I love all of this!
Contact Info:
- Website: simply-strengths.com
- Facebook: www.simply-strengths.com
Image Credits
Headshot was taken by Alicia Bertram
